Woodbury American Legion Post 133 conducts Flag Day ceremony

View full sizePhoto providedThe William Stokes Bonsal American Legion Post 133 of Woodbury with the assistance of Boys Scout Troop 7 of Woodbury held a flag retirement ceremony at 7 p.m. on Flag Day at the American Legion Post on Washington Avenue.

WOODBURY — The William Stokes Bonsal American Legion Post 133 of Woodbury with the assistance of Boys Scout Troop 7 of Woodbury held a flag retirement ceremony at 7 p.m. on Flag Day at the American Legion Post on Washington Avenue.

The Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags is outlined in Resolution 440, passed by the 19th National Convention of The American Legion in New York on September 20-23, 1937.

The ceremony has been an integral part of the American Legion ritual ever since. It is held at various American Legion Posts in Gloucester County on Flag Day each year.

Post Sgt. of Arms Bud Siexas opened the ceremony by bringing the Scouts into formation and inspecting the formation to ensure each Scout had a discarded flag for presentment.

The Scouts were called to attention and marched before the Post’s two vice commanders. The flags were presented for their inspection whereupon the vice commanders declared the flags were unserviceable and unacceptable for display.

Post Commander Ron Amy acted upon the recommendation of the vice commanders and gave the command to proceed with the flag retirement ceremony. The Scouts, still in formation, were instructed to do an about-face maneuver and marched toward the final staging area, where the flags would be individually presented to the Sergeant of Arms for placement onto the fire.

Upon presentment of the final flag, the command was given to salute and Taps was played on the bugle by Scout Charlie Hughes and echo taps was performed by Scout Joey Walker.

After the ceremony, everyone was invited into the post for hot dogs and refreshments.

Scout Master George Hoffman said approximately half of his troop strength of 24 attended the function. The event counted for an accredited community activity and the points earned go toward a Scout's next badge.

The American Legion Post has a designated receptacle in its parking lot facing Evergreen Avenue for receiving old and tattered flags throughout the year and encourages the public to discard their flags there.